L’Equipe Investigation Claims Elliott Influenced Lille While Owning Milan, Sparking UEFA Rule Concerns

FolioPitch.com – 06 October 2026 | A front-page investigation by French sports daily L’Equipe has reignited scrutiny over the relationship between AC Milan and Lille OSC during the period when American hedge fund Elliott Management owned the Rossoneri. The L’Equipe investigation claims Elliott influenced Lille while owning Milan, presenting seized chats and emails that suggest the fund exerted far more control over the French club than previously acknowledged. The report, which has sent shockwaves through European football governance circles, raises serious questions about potential violations of UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.

According to the French newspaper, messages recovered by Italy’s Guardia di Finanza as part of a probe into Elliott’s 2022 sale of Milan to RedBird Capital Partners indicate that Elliott executives were involved in key decisions at Lille. The L’Equipe investigation claims Elliott influenced Lille while owning Milan, describing the ties between the two clubs as “ambiguous” and suggesting that one of them could or should have been barred from European competition.

Elliott became Lille’s main creditor when previous owner Gerard Lopez was forced to sell the club to Merlyn Partners in December 2020. The official line has always been that Merlyn controlled Lille while Elliott acted solely as a lender. However, the leaked communications tell a different story. In January 2022, Gordon Singer, an Elliott executive and then a member of Milan’s board, reportedly offered his views on the futures of Lille players Sven Botman and Renato Sanches. Months later, Merlyn’s Maarten Petermann allegedly told Lille’s sporting director that Amadou Onana would be sold, citing Elliott’s financial interests as a decisive factor.

These revelations are particularly significant because UEFA regulations prohibit any party from controlling or having decisive influence over more than one club participating in the same competition. During the 2020-21 season, both Milan and Lille competed in the Europa League and were drawn in the same group. The following season, both clubs qualified for the Champions League. The L’Equipe investigation claims Elliott influenced Lille while owning Milan, implying that UEFA should have prevented such scenarios from occurring.

Elliott has strongly denied any wrongdoing. In a statement, the fund said: “UEFA has already investigated the matter and concluded that Elliott does not exercise any control or decisive influence over LOSC. Elliott’s only relationship with LOSC has always been that of a financier.” The denial, however, has done little to quell the controversy, as the seized documents appear to contradict the official narrative.

The timing of the investigation adds another layer of complexity. Elliott sold Milan to RedBird in 2022, but the alleged influence over Lille occurred before and during that sale process. Italian authorities are examining whether Elliott misrepresented its relationship with Lille during the sale, which could have implications for the deal’s legitimacy. The L’Equipe investigation claims Elliott influenced Lille while owning Milan, and if proven, it could lead to sanctions not only for the clubs but also for the executives involved.

UEFA has yet to comment publicly on the latest developments, but the governing body may be forced to reopen its investigation. Multi-club ownership has become a hot-button issue in European football, with several high-profile cases already under review. The L’Equipe investigation claims Elliott influenced Lille while owning Milan, and this case could set a precedent for how strictly UEFA enforces its rules.

For Milan and Lille, the immediate sporting consequences are unclear. Both clubs have moved on from the Elliott era—Milan under RedBird and Lille under Merlyn—but historical violations could still result in retrospective punishments, including fines or even exclusion from future competitions. The reputational damage, however, is already being felt.

In conclusion, the L’Equipe investigation claims Elliott influenced Lille while owning Milan, and the evidence presented is compelling enough to warrant a thorough independent review. While Elliott maintains its innocence, the seized communications raise legitimate doubts about the true nature of its involvement with Lille. UEFA must now decide whether to act or risk undermining the integrity of its own regulations. For now, the football world watches and waits.